Police arrested 45 suspects on Friday Bus bomb

Police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekara said 45 suspects have been arrested on Friday’s bus bomb in Katubedda. "They are under interrogation, he said.

Meanwhile Deputy Inspector General of Police Western Province South Division C.D. Wickremarathne said three special teams have been deployed for the investigation activities.

Director of the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital Dr. Wilfred Kumarasiri said 21 persons have been killed by the claymore mine attack that targeted a passenger bus at the Piliyandala-Katubedda road.

A student of the University of Moratuwa is also among the dead. 55 persons were injured by the incident. Out of them 44 are receiving treatments at the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital. Four persons are in critical condition. Five more persons have also been to the Colombo General Hospital. Director of the Hospital Dr. Hector Weerasinghe said the five males are receiving treatments in the Intensive Care Unit.

According to the Police Spokesman two persons were killed and 20 have been injured by the bomb blast that has occurred inside a bus travelling from Wattegama to Kandy. He said the explosion has taken place at around 4.00 pm in the CP GH 7503 bus near the Youth Centre at Polgolla in Kandy. Speaking to media he said the bomb had been planted in the rear of the bus. SSP of Kandy D.L. Gammanpila said the main suspect related to the incident has been arrested.

Director of the Kandy Hospital Dr. W.G. Dissanayake stated 12 persons have been admitted for treatments. A body of a person who was killed in the incident is lying at the Kandy Hospital.

Meanwhile, an LTTE terrorist who had planted the bomb has already been taken into custody when he was trying to escape the scene, police sources said. A wire role and a bottle of poison were also found in his possession, police sources further added. A search operation is now underway in the area.